Prioritize carrier connectivity (road and rail access), real transit times to customers, inventory accuracy and WMS integration, service-level flexibility (pick & pack, kitting, returns), and total landed cost estimates that include cross-dock and last-mile fees.

Positioning fulfillment in Chingola shortens routes to Copperbelt industrial customers and offers competitive transit to neighboring provinces. Rail and trunk-road access reduce bulk transit costs, while local hubs improve last-mile windows for nearby urban and mining destinations.

Evaluate the 3PL's customs handling experience, bonded storage capability, documentation accuracy, and carrier contingency plans. Confirm throughput capacity during peak mining shipments and ensure SLA clauses cover demurrage, delays, and regulatory inspections.

Look for real-time WMS with API-driven integrations to your storefronts and ERPs, barcode-based inventory control, batch/lot tracking, shipment tracking and label generation, and reporting dashboards for inventory velocity and cost-to-serve analysis.